garlic parmesan soft pretzels

Sometimes you see recipes that you just have to make immediately, no matter what you've been planning, or how much it doesn't fit as an app or side for whatever you're currently cooking for dinner.

This was one of those recipes.

When the ever-inventive and genius Averie of Averie Cooks posted this recipe, it was all I could think about. Despite the fact that I was in the middle of making a loaf of bread, I figured that, since the whole process was supposed to take one hour from start to finish, I could put these together in the time I was waiting for the other bread to rise. And I was right, and so very thankful that I had done so, because OMG these are SO good and it's insane how quickly they all come together. My pretzel-twisting skills clearly need some perfecting, but there will be time to work on that. Because now that I have found these, I am going to make them at every appropriate opportunity.

Make these with a friend, your husband, or your kids! They're super fun and you can get as creative as you want with toppings. I loved this garlic parmesan version because I put garlic and parmesan on pretty much everything possible, but you could do simple butter and sea salt, cinnamon sugar, honey butter - the possibilities are endless! Alright, I'll stop talking now and let you get started...

Garlic Parmesan Soft Pretzels (pretzels from Averie Cooks)
makes 6 pretzels

for the pretzels, you'll need:
2.5 cups bread flour (AP may be substituted)
2 1/4 teaspoons (one standard packet) instant dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water (check your yeast packet for the recommended water temp.)
1/8 cup butter, melted

for the garlic parmesan butter, you'll need:
3 tablespoons butter, melted
5-6 garlic cloves, finely minced
handful of Italian parsley, chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

In a large bowl, add flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Mix for a few seconds to combine. Pour the warm water over the top. Stir the mixture for about 1 minute, or until completely combined.

Remove bowl from mixer and knead dough (I just keep it in the bowl, but you could turn it out onto a floured work surface if you want) for about 5 minutes.

After you've kneaded the dough, remove it from the bowl and spray the bowl with cooking spray. Return dough to the bowl. Cover with plasticwrap and place it in a warm place to rise for at least 30 minutes. (The longer it rises, the fluffier your pretzels will be. But 30 minutes is just fine!)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Once dough has risen, punch it down and place it on a floured work surface. Using a sharp knife, divide dough into six equal pieces. Using your hands, roll each piece into a long rope (mine were about 15 inches long). To make a pretzel shape, grab the ends like you're making a heart. Twist like a twist-tie and lay ends on their opposite side. Or just shape them however you want! Transfer pretzels to prepared baking sheets, three per tray.

Melt 1/8 cup butter in the microwave and brush onto the pretzels. Bake for about 10 minutes. While pretzels are baking, make the garlic butter by mixing together all ingredients except Parmesan. When pretzels have baked for 10 minutes, turn broiler on and let broil for about 90 seconds in order to get those golden brown tops. Remove from oven and brush pretzels with the garlic butter. Sprinkle Parmesan on top and serve immediately.

See! So quick and easy with the best reward ever. Enjoy!

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